Safety starting device for internal-combustion engines.



Y LIBERTY. v

SAFETY STARTING DEVICE FOR INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENG IIII I Patented July 27, 1915.

T O I re on ARCHIELIBEBTY, OF AMI-SSA, MICHiIGAN.

1 l SAFETY STARTING DEVICE F018- INTERNAECOMIBUSTIGN ENGINES.

Patented; duly 2?, 123 3.55.

Application filed March 4-, 1914. Serial No. saaasa.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Anemia LIBERTY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Amasa, in the county of Iron and State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Safety Starting Devices for Internal Combustion Engines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to internal combustion engines, and more specifically to a safety starting device for use in connection with such engines.

The object of my invention is to provide a device which will be simple in construction and effective in operation so that when the crank of an automobile is turned to start the motor, safety pawls will auto-- matically check the reverse movement of the crank which is sometimes caused by back-fire in this type of engine. A plurality of pawls are provided, the operz tion. of any one of which is sufficient to cause the device to operate as intended.

Other objects of this invention not at this time more particularly enumerated, will be clearly understood from the detailed de- 'scription and drawings forming a part of this specification.

Furthermore, this invention consists in the novel arrangement and combination of parts more particularly described in the following specification and embodied in the claims appended hereuntoand forming a part of this application.

Referring now to the drawings which are merely illustrative of my invention, Figure 1 is a side elevation of my device inclosed in its casing, while Fig. 2 is a longitudinal side elevation of the interior arrangement with the casing in section. Fig. 3 is a cross sectional view tal en on the line of Fig. 1, while Fl". l is a fragmental detail elevation of the spring abutment and front plate. Fig. 5 is a detail elevation showing the construction of one of. the pawls.

Iteferrin g further to the drawings wherein similar reference characters designate snnilar parts throughout the respective views, 1. 1s a ratchet wheel, rearwardly from which is solidly fixed an auxiliary crank-shaft 2,

terminating in a clutch head 2. Upon the front face and in the center of said wheel and extending part way therethrou h is a hole 8, preferably square, into which main crank-shaft l fits when. pushed for?. .urd into engagement with saidwheel. The shaft 4 is, however, held normally disengaged Irom said wheel by an open cylindrical spring 5 interposed between the spring abutment l fixed fast upon the main cranlc sha-ft, and

13 of plate member '6 whencrank is at rest, 7

and to be disengaged by the pushing forward of main crank-shaft s when it is desired to crank the engine. Rearwardly from 'asing portion 8 and surrounding wheel 1 is a ring member 1%, and rearwarclly from aid ring member is a rear plate member 15 loosely mounted about auxiliary crankshaft 2 andforming a complete casing by being bolted bybolts 16 to ring member l t and easing portion 8. ,Fixed to said rear plate member '15 are two supporting rods 15 by means of which 6 the device is securely mounted to an automobile. The inner circumference of ring member lit is provided with depressions 17 into which and projecting therefrom. are pivotally mounted pawls 18, by means of pivots 18, said pawls adapted to engage with ratchet wheels 3. to prevent reverse movement thereof. The said pawls are provided on the top side thereof with a flat surface 19 countersunk in a manner adapted to hold in place one end of springs 20, the other end of said springs being engaged with an indentation in the upper wall of depression 17.. When the crank is turned to the right the pawis do not operate, but the instant reverse movement of the ratchet wheel occurs, the pawls are forced by means of the members into the ratchets of the wheel which prevents reversing the movement of the crank handle backwardly against the operator.

Having now described and. pointed out the new and useful features of my inven-- tion, I do not limit myself to" the shape of certain parts where the slit-33o is not essential, nor do I restrict myself to the exact details of construction shown and described,

drically internallythereof, the inner circumferenti wall of said'casing provided with a plurality of depressions therein, a

,pawl piv'otally mountedwithin each of said depressions, a spring interposed between one face of said pawl and the adjacent face of said depression adapted to force the free end of said pawl toward the axial center of said casing, a ratchet wheel mounted within said casing adapted to cooperate with said pawls,

an auxiliary crank shaft fixedly mountedupon the rearward face of said ratchet wheel, said ratchet wheel formed with a reetangular-socket centrally thereof, a squared main shaft adapted to fit within said socket, a spring abutment fixedly mounted at a certam point upon said main shaft, a housing formed upon said casing, a spring interposed. between said abutment and said casing adapted'to fit within said housing, a

plate member adapted toclose said housing,'

and a crank handle mounted upon said main shaft.

2. In a device of the kind described, in

combination, a casing, the inner circumfer- 'e'ntial wall of said casing provided with a plurality of depressions therein, a spring actuated pawl pivotallymounted within each of said depressions, a ratchet wheel mounted within said casing adapted to co- 0 crate with said pawls, an auxiliary crank s aft fixedly mounted upon the rearward 9 face of said ratchet wheel, said ratchet wheel housing,

formed with a rectangular socket centrallythereof, a squared main shaft adapted to fit within said socket, a spring abutment fixedly mounted at a certain point upon said main shaft, a slot formed within the outer face of said spring abutment, a housing formed upon said casing, a spring interposed between said abutment and said easing adapted to fit within said housing, a plate member adapted to close said housing, :1 lug formed upon the inner face ofsaid plate member adapted to engage with said slot, and a crank handle mounted .upon said main shaft.

3. In combination, a casing, a. rotatable member disposed within said casing, an auxiliary crank shaft fixedly mounted upon one face of said rotatable men'iber, said rotatable member formed with a socket centrally thereof, a housing formed upon said casing, a crank shaft arrai'iged to enter said socket adapted to operate said rotatable member, a spring disposed within said housing, an abutment fixed upon said crank shaft adapted to compress saidspring in said said abutment formed with a slot in the outer face thereof, a perforated plate member mounted upon said housing, said crank shaft loosely mounted within the perforation in said plate member, and a lug formed upon the inner face of said plate member adapted to engage with the slot in said abutment.

In testimony whereof I afiiX my signature in presence of two witnesses.

I ARCHIE LIBERTY. Witnesses:

LnoN Bi ncn, W M. BEDARD. 

